Nice to have something that is specific for long hair! It’s longer than the regular size, about 25% more, which I need since my hair is about mid-back length. The towel is made with AQUITEX, which dries hair super quick and cuts down on frizz and split ends. It also has magical properties that make for static-free hair! It’s incredible.

How about a hack for super white teeth? The Mira-Teeth Ultrasound Toothbrush and Ultrasound Toothpaste Gel is what you need, not only as a whitening hack but also as a traveling hack. This toothbrush is the answer to rotating or swiveling brush heads, providing a gentler cleaning without irritating the gums. The results are pretty powerful – a super deep antibacterial cleaner and tooth whitener within a totally transportable toothbrush.

Mira-Teeth Ultrasound Toothbrush and Ultrasound Toothpaste Gel

Mira-Teeth Ultrasound Toothbrush and Ultrasound Toothpaste Gel

First of all, this toothbrush cleans teeth FAST. The ultrasound works via air oscillations and it actually cleans teeth in just 60 to 90 seconds – talk about saving time!! Even if you have ‘deep pockets’ this is a toothbrush for you, because the ultrasound penetrates deeply and gets in even the smallest crevices with very little effort on your part.

Mira-Teeth Ultrasound Toothbrush – you know it’s on when the blue lights are on

Mira-Teeth Ultrasound Toothbrush

Mira-Teeth Ultrasound Toothbrush comes with two brush heads

It’s also extremely gentle. You don’t have to fight with plaque because the ultrasound breaks it up. It gets rid of tartar and you won’t experience bleeding gums brushing with the Mira-Teeth Ultrasound Toothbrush.

A major plus is the ultrasound really attacks stains! It takes your teeth right back to their original color while it gets rid of all that bacteria and plaque. If you smoke, drink wine, eat a lot of beets, whatever…this toothbrush (and the special toothpaste) will take care of everything for you – and quickly.

Mira-Teeth Ultrasound Toothpaste Gel

Speaking of the toothpaste, you want to use the Mira-Teeth Toothpaste for the best results. It tastes great and it’s specially formulated for use with the ultrasonic toothbrush – you don’t use the Mira-Teeth Ultrasound Toothbrush with regular toothpaste. The ultrasonic brush makes microscopic nanobubbles in this toothpaste that do all the work and keep teeth healthy, protecting enamel and reducing wear and tear on teeth.

Mira-Teeth Ultrasound Toothbrush

Brushing your teeth with the Mira-Teeth Ultrasound Toothbrush couldn’t be easier. You first brush normally with the toothbrush and toothpaste to get rid of large food particles, then you turn on the ultrasound and hold the brush head against the surface of your teeth (inside, outside, and chewing surfaces) for a few seconds. That’s it! The brush rarely needs charging and you do that with the included USB cable.

I am extremely impressed with this toothbrush – my teeth are incredibly clean in such a short time and they are definitely whiter. It really is amazing! And what a terrific toothbrush for travel – no worries about charging or plugging it in and every time I brush I get a whitening treatment. The Mira-Teeth Starter Kit retails for $199 and is available on Techmira.com.

With these winter beauty hacks I am ready for another six more weeks of winter or more no problem! – Lisa

There’s a saying “Let a smile be your umbrella” but do you want that smile to be old and dingy? Or do you want it to be bright and inviting? Luster Now! Whitening Flouride Toothpaste knows that answer and wants to make sure that you do too.

Luster Now! Instant Whitening Flouride Toothpaste

Why should you consider Luster Now! Whitening Flouride Toothpaste? As you know it’s recommended that you brush your teeth twice a day. Why not start your morning with a toothpaste that helps brighten your smile instantly? The secret is Luster Now!’s alone as it contains Bluverite® technology which deposits blue micro-particles on to teeth, creating the optical effect of whiter teeth. Since it contains flouride you have the protection that it provides.

Did you know that October is National Dental Hygiene Month? Our teeth deserve more than one day to be celebrated and hygienists around the states want to remind us of to promote good oral health maintenance to the public.

The Four Components of Good Oral Health Maintenance*:

Brush Teeth Twice Daily

Always brush two minutes, two times a day

Floss every day

Ensure flossing is a daily habit.

Rinse with Mouthwash

Use mouthwash to improve oral health

Chew Sugar-Free Gum

Chewing sugar-free gum after eating can help fight tooth decay

Luster Now! Instant Whitening Flouride Toothpaste

Luster NOW!® won the Allure Beauty Breakthrough Award for its instant whitening effects. But it’s not just for whitening, it’s for dental health too. Of course it contains flouride, it’s good for removing stains, it’s safe on your tooth enamel, and it doesn’t cause tooth sensitivity. The taste is very mellow, a light mint that won’t make you grimace. It helps freshen your breath while working to make your teeth glisten.

Luster NOW!® can be found at CVS, Walgreen, Walmart, Meijer, Rite Aid and so many more local stores for $7.99. It’s the perfect way to start the day and dazzle everyone you know. — Marcia

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION: Luster is sending two Beauty Info Zone subscribers a tube to try for themselves. This small but brilliant giveaway will be open through October 25, 2017 at 11:59 pm EDT for US only.

This summer I have been on more mini-vacations than ever! So I’ve become really, really good at throwing together a quick overnight bag or a one day travel tote bag, whether I’m off the beach or off for an 8 hour car ride to pick up my daughter from camp. Here are four (or five, depending on how you want to count them!) items that are always in my summer tote.

Marvis Aquatic Mint Toothpaste

I have been a big fan of Marvis Toothpaste for years and years and I love the travel size ($6) tube! Lately I’ve been digging the Aquatic Mint flavor and I also love Jasmine Mint, the tube I recently finished. There are lots of cool flavors available and let’s face it…the packaging is so awesome, anyone pillaging your tote for lip balm is going to be impressed with how hip you are!

Soap and Paper Green Tea Shea Hand Cream

Soap and Paper Jasmine Shea Hand Cream

Soap and Paper Shea Hand Cream

Any bag I pack always has hand cream in it and Soap and Paper has the best hand cream in a perfect travel size. The Petite Shea Hand Cream ($9, 1 oz.) is thick and rich, with an elegant shea-based formula that totally soothes dry skin. It’s velvety goodness. The Green Tea scent is natural and clean and the Jasmine scent is dreamy and intoxicating. I can’t decide which is my favorite so I just pack both.

Good Earth Beauty Citrus White Grapefruit Perfume

Good Earth Beauty Citrus White Grapefruit Perfume

I love to have a refreshing fragrance at my fingertips and Good Earth Beauty has a perfect option – the rollerball Citrus White Grapefruit Perfume ($21). This is a gorgeous scent – light, refreshing, fresh as a summer’s day. The scent is an intoxicating combination of citrusy white grapefruit, tangerine, sweet orange, and mimosa. There isn’t any alcohol or water in this perfume, it’s straight up essential oils, so you only need a tiny amount to smell spectacular all day long. Love this, and you need it in your tote ASAP. Oh, it’s also vegan, organic, cruelty free and gluten-free.

Eddie Funkhouser Quattro Variable Lash Mascara

A simple swipe of mascara can take me from looking sickly to looking fantastic in three seconds, particularly with Eddie FunkhouserQuattro Variable Lash Mascara($13). One tube of mascara gives four different finishes, from natural to major drama. I might do a quick swipe of #2 for a day look, and then later on add a coat of #4 for big, thick lashes. What I love is this mascara never smudges or smears, regardless of the temperature or humidity. It’s a perfect mascara to have in your summer tote!

I have a few more items in my summer tote, but these four (or five, since I can’t choose between the Jasmine and Green Tea Soap and Paper Hand Cream scents!) are constants. What are some of your must haves in your summer tote? – Lisa

PS – Speaking of the super talented Eddie Funkhouser, don’t forget to enter our giveaway for some of his lipsticks and lip glosses – enter HERE!

No matter how beautiful your lipstick is and how gorgeous your smile you still aren’t complete if you have bad breath. You may make that first impression but will people want to be near you if your breath isn’t up to par? That’s where CloSYS comes in. At first it appears that this is a normal toothwhitening system but CloSYS goes beyond that.

press sample

CloSYS Introductory Kit

I’m sure you are used to mouthwash and other products that help with your breath but CloSYS is unique in comparison. First “the difference between CloSYS and other oral rinses is its ability to eliminate the volatile sulfur compounds (VSC) that cause bad breath. It also kills the harmful bacteria that create VSC and gum infection, without any alcohol or additives to cause burning or irritation. (I couldn’t have said it better myself!)

The Introductory Kit that I was sent (and that two people can win) contains the original unflavored sulfate-free floride toothpaste. In the kit there’s a gentle mint toothpaste, alcohol free oral health rinse, mini oral spray to take with, and a small mint flavor bottle to add the right amount of flavor to your taste.

CloSYS Introductory Kit components

All of their items are available full size as well as in travel size and introductory kits.

CloSYS Sulfate-Free Flouride Toothpaste

CloSYS toothpaste is available in both Flouride and Flouride-Free formulas. These have a very mild flavor and have a low-abrasion formula. They are both good for sensitive teeth. The main goal is eliminating bad breath for hours and that’s where they excel.

CloSYS Alcohol-Free Oral Health Rinse

CloSYS Oral Health Rinse also comes in two formulas: CloSYS Alcohol-Free Oral Health Rinse and Floride Oral Health Rinse (Silver). The alcohol-free version basically has no taste to it which is why the Introductory Kit includes a very small vial of mint flavor for you to make it a little more peppy. But a little of the flavor goes a long way.

CloSYS Fresh Breath Oral Spray is another product that helps with your breath. This is a portable spray to be used any time you need it. It’s sugar free as well as alcohol free and comes in a non-aerosol spray. It’s great to have with you all the time.

What makes CloSYS so unique is their patented ingredient Cloralstan which kills the bacteria that creates bad breath. 99% of bacteria is destroyed and Clorastan helps prevents its regrowth. Using CloSYS will help with more than your breath though. It also helps with gum disease (gingivitis and peridondtitis)

It’s easy to get started with the Introductory/Trial Size kit which is TSA approved. Once you’ve tried it you’ll be able to determine your favorites and buy them in full size. Amazon, CVS, Walmart, and Walgreens carry CloSYS so do yourself a favor and learn about it for yourself. — Marcia

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION: CloSYS is going to send 2 US subscribers this Introductory Kit to try for themselves. The giveaway is open through 5/12 at 11:59 pm EDT. Be sure you are an email subscriber and comment!

I have been loving Facebook lately because of all the awesome ‘back to school’ photos. I don’t care how old you are, there is something magical about this time of year…new beginnings, new friends, and even better – new beauty products! Fall is the perfect time to finish up the products you got for summer and replenish your stash. I’ve partnered with Meijer in anticipation of their Fall Beauty Week that starts September 11th and here are four items to stock up on that are worth the extra closet and drawer space.

1.Body wash. I’ve been using Dove Body Wash forever, so I am happy to see that these will be on sale at Meijer during Fall Beauty Week. If the men in your life are like mine, they resist body wash in favor of bar soap…but I think the Dove Clean Comfort will change their minds. This is an excellent multi-purpose soap that works for body and face, and it has a refreshing outdoorsy scent that isn’t overwhelming.

2. Toothpaste. We all need toothpaste and there are so many options out there (and so many on sale next week!), but I hope you will try my favorite, Colgate Optic White Platinum. I am totally stocking up on this – I prefer a paste over a gel, and this one makes teeth visibly whiter in just three days.

3. Body lotion. Lotion is a year round must-have and I know I panic when I don’t have back up bottles. I am loving the Yes to Coconut Ultra Light Spray Body Lotion because it seems perfect in every sort of weather – it’s light, so it feels great even in hot and sticky weather. It’s super hydrating, so it’s perfect for dry winter skin. t’s also so nice to have a spray lotion, which makes application easy and convenient. This was even a 2014 Allure Best of Beauty Winner.

4. Root cover up. Gals who color their hair have a deep understanding of the nightmare that begins with the dreaded last spray of root cover up. I always have three bottles of this on hand…any less and I start to panic. The L’Oreal Root Cover Up is perfect for instantly touching up roots, and the money saved by stretching out time between hair appointments is incredible. Stock up while this is on sale!!

So many of my favorite items are on sale next week that I have a whole other post with skin care recommendations. These four items are the ones to buy multiples of for the upcoming winter – take advantage of the wonderful prices on these fantastic products during Fall Beauty Week at Meijer! – Lisa

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream. Even decades after I learned this little ditty I still believe in it. This is what’s currently on the adult shelf in my freezer. There’s a kid’s shelf too so that everyone gets their fair share. The main shopping for my house is at Meijer who helped sponsor this post and giveaway with a gift card to make me happy.

So what did I buy with my g.c.? Well we know it’s ice cream but in addition to that I need something to protect my sensitive teeth. The answer was right there in the health section – Tom’s of Maine.

Tom’s of Maine at Meijer

Out of all the great choices I decided to try their newest product RAPID RELIEF SENSITIVE TOOTHPASTE. It was calling my name although I came close to several others. But the word “sensitive” grabbed my eye as did “flouride-free” and “natural”.

Tom’s of Maine Rapid Relief Sensitive Toothpaste

This toothpaste does double duty since it not only gets my teeth clean and whiter but it can be used as a product to help numb your gums if you have a problem. To do that just rub it on any sensitive teeth for 1 minute while massaging away the sensitivity. Then you can get back to your ice cream or cold drinks.

morning routine

Going to the dental hygienist isn’t a dream come true for most of us but when you yelp when your teeth are being cleaned, that’s when they recommend a toothpaste for sensitive teeth. I’ve tried several kinds but what’s unusual about Tom’s Rapid Relief Toothpaste is the groundbreaking formula. It combines the “natural power of arginine* with calcium carbonate* to heal seal pathways to sensitive or exposed nerves“. By using it daily I find it’s better for long-lasting protection.

Tom’s of Maine Rapid Relief Toothpaste

This is a thick toothpaste so it adheres well to my brush without ending up in the sink the minute I turn on the power. It’s extremely fresh tasting with a minty flavor.

I’ve got my eye on more ice cream flavors at Meijer and I know my mouth won’t object. They carry Blue Bunny ice cream which I haven’t tried yet since the Michigan brand, Hudsonville, has been keeping me busy. I’ve still got some money left on the g.c. they sent so what should I buy? — Marcia

*arginine bicarbonate is used for sensitivity relief (occlusive agent) *calcium carbonate is a mild abrasive needed for cleansing

Meijer is located in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Kentucky but the gift card could also be used online. Their prices are great and, like I said, I do most of my grocery shopping there. My little ones love going to Meijer to buy what they call surprises. If you’ve been to Meijer you know it carries everything under the sun and even has a horsey ride for 1 cent! The two year old is addicted to Sandy the horse.

Giveaway prize

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION: Meijer has sent a $50 gift card for one US Beauty Info Zone subscriber to purchase their favorite toothpaste and cold treats (or anything your sensitive mouth desires). This prize will make someone’s summer a lot better. This is open through July 25th at 11:59 p.m. If comments close just email me at [email protected] and label it Tom’s of Maine so you can leave your comment there and continue on.

When you think of the hottest beauty accessory for the summer, you might think ‘colorful statement necklace’ or ‘turquoise drop earrings’. But the best accessory for any season is a gorgeous and healthy smile.

CloSYS, a line of oral health products including toothpaste, mouthwash and breath spray, sent us some products to try for the ultimate oral health. The breath spray is definitely a summer bag on-the-go essential. Plus, CloSYS offers a travel-size kit that is a must-have for the upcoming travel season.

In a nutshell, here is what makes CloSYS different: the oral hygiene products contain stabilized chlorine dioxide, which stops plaque from forming and kills harmful bacteria (the nasty stuff that causes bad breath, inflammation, and gum disease). While it kills off the harmful stuff, it doesn’t kill the good bacteria that helps with digestion and mouth health.

The CloSYS Flouride Month Kit

The One Month Fluoride (or Flouride-free) Kit ($24.99) comes with:

One 32oz. Oral Rinse

One 3.4oz. Fluoride or Flouride-free Toothpaste

One Oral Breath Spray Cylinder

One Tongue Cleaner

One Toothbrush

In a Clear Plastic Drawstring Carry

It’s a great travel kit that has everything you need for a great smile and fresh breath. All of the products are alcohol-free, sulfate-free, naturally whiten and are pH balanced which helps protect mouths from being too acidic.

CloSYS toothpastes

CloSYS has two kinds of toothpastes – Flouride and Flouride-free. There are no sulfates in these toothpastes, which can cause irritation. They have a very low amount of abrasiveness, so those with sensitive teeth or a tendency towards canker sores can use them with ease. CloSYSFluoride Toothpaste is almost three times better at preventing cavities while using less fluoride than other leading brands. Plus, it fights plaque and neutralizes all the yucky things that cause bad breath.

I have a tendency to get canker sores from different foods (jalapenos are my enemy!) so when I have a flare-up I really like the Flouride-free toothpaste. My canker sores are typically gone within a day or two because this is such a gentle toothpaste that doesn’t further irritate my mouth.

CloSYS toothbrush

CloSYS tongue cleaner

another view of the tongue cleaner

The One Month Kit comes with a great soft-head toothbrush that has gum massagers and tongue cleaners on the handle. It also has a separate Tongue Cleaner (you can get a pack of 12 tongue cleaners for $19.99). Cleaning the tongue is absolutely essential for the best oral hygiene and this is a great tool with a ridge that quickly removes the bad stuff – also known as volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) – that cause bad breath.

CloSYS Dental Rinse

CloSYS Flavor Concentrate

Also included in the One Month Kit is the CloSYS Dental Rinse. I admit, I am not good about using mouthwash because I just can’t take the stinging and the intense flavoring. But the CloSYSDental Rinse is a different story. It has Cloralstan™, a patented ingredient that kills 99.9% of harmful bacteria in 10 seconds, which is amazing. What sells me on this mouthwash, though, is that it’s alcohol-free and I can determine the amount of flavoring it has. With no alcohol, I get clean breath without that burning sensation. Plus, it comes unflavored with a separate bottle of Flavor Concentrate. I put in as many drops as I want for the flavor level that is pleasing to me.

CloSYS Breath Spray

The final product in the One Month Kit is the CloSYSBreath Spray. I have this in my purse at all times now. I talk to people all day long and we all know how tortuous it is to have a conversation with someone who has stale breath…or worse, Dorito breath. I definitely don’t want anyone to remember an interaction with me as something painful to live through.

This spray is pleasantly minty and it takes care of any breath issue in an instant. Plus, it’s sugar-free!

I have really enjoyed my CloSYS products and I highly recommend them, especially if you have sensitive teeth or are prone to canker sores. You can easily find this brand online at CloSYS.com or in drugstores like CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart for the best summer accessory there is. – Lisa